Augusta, GA
Universities hope free applications attract more students to Augusta
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – This month, application fees for high school seniors are free for more than 60 colleges and universities across Georgia.
Augusta University and Augusta Tech are two of our local colleges participating in this promotion put on by the Georgia Student Financial Commission.
Both Augusta University and Augusta Tech are hoping to see more students on campus and in the classrooms.
“If you have a student that maybe wants to apply to 10 institutions, that could be $400 or $500 in application fees, and some students just don’t have the ability to do that,” said Nichole Spencer, Augusta Tech Student Affairs vice president.”And then you have to pay it up. You can’t submit your application in most cases without that fee. So it is giving students the opportunity to apply to more colleges, shop around the Georgia match programs, and also take the difficulty out of the application process by giving that direct match.”
Giving more people the chance to apply who might not have applied before.
“Anything that we can do to make it easier for a student to apply to make it easier for a family to afford college is going to trickle down into all of our communities,” said Amy Smith, associate vice president for enrollment management. “Whether that’s first-generation students who maybe their families aren’t as familiar with the college and application process or underrepresented communities or lower socioeconomic background families.”
It’s only their second year as a part of this program. Last February, Augusta University had around 400 applications and Augusta Tech had around 600.
In March, Augusta University jumped to nearly 700 and Augusta Tech to just over 1,400, hoping to bring in even that many applications again, if not more this year, and so far, they say they’re right on track.
“So I anticipate seeing a similar volume this,” said Smith. “So again, you know, 700 students that this takes advantage of this opportunity I think is really amazing.”
Breaking barriers with a goal to keep students local and bring more in from outside the CSRA to help build up augusta as a whole.
“It can be a daunting task for a lot of institutions, including our own,” said Spencer. “So this program has really helped I think to bridge that gap for students and give them more access to into higher education.”
There are more than 60 Georgia colleges and universities waiving application fees for the month of March.
Depending on which one you’re applying to, there are different ways to get that fee taken off.
You can see all the colleges and universities that will waive application fees here.
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An Augusta biomanufacturer will start making ammunition in the global fight against malaria.
Manus last week broke ground at its local plant on Lovers Lane on a production facility to produce artemisinin. The chemical is a key starting component in drug treatments to treat the deadly mosquito-borne illness. Malaria killed more than 600,000 people worldwide in 2024, according to the World Health Organization
“This groundbreaking reflects a shift from dependence to capability,” said Ajikumar Parayil, Manus’ founder and CEO. “For decades, the U.S. has relied heavily on overseas supply chains for the building blocks of essential medicines. What we’re establishing in Augusta is a new model – one that restores control, strengthens resilience, and proves that advanced biomanufacturing can be deployed at scale, here at home.”
About 80% of key ingredients for essential U.S. medicines are made or sourced overseas, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
That has led companies such as Manus to pursue biomanufacturing production models capable of making medical compounds domestically, efficiently and on a large scale.
Earlier in 2026, Manus won federal funding to expand production to make shikimic acid, a key compound in the antiviral medication oseltamivir, better known by its brand name Tamiflu.
On April 30, Manus announced a partnership with the University of Georgia to start a structured biomanufacturing apprenticeship program in Augusta. With a UGA “academic blueprint,” according to Manus, apprentices would receive extensive training on live production equipment to produce more experienced professionals for bio-industrial manufacturers nationwide.
Manus reopened Augusta’s old NutraSweet plant in 2019. In 2021, it introduced NutraSweet Natural, a zero-calorie stevia sweetener made using a smaller environmental footprint.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Brent McMillian is being appointed as the new director of athletics at Augusta University, President Russell Keen announced Monday.
McMillian will begin the role on June 8, 2026.
According to AU, McMillian brings 13 years of athletics experience to the position. He previously served as Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Engagement and Revenue Generation at Lipscomb University at Nashville.
“His vision aligns seamlessly with our goals for Jaguar Athletics: to champion student-athlete wellbeing, strengthen our competitive success, deepen community engagement, and build a vibrant, spirited campus culture,” Keen said. “His experience, combined with his personal connection to Augusta University, positions him to hit the ground running in a meaningful way.”
McMillian is a graduate of Greenbrier High School and attended Augusta University before completing his degree at the University of Tennessee.
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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Local restaurants hosted brunches for Mother’s Day, allowing neighbors to celebrate the day with the special women in their lives.
The Brunch House of Augusta on Greene Street hosted a brunch. The restaurant served berry pancakes and French toast, waffles, ham and cheese breakfast sliders and more breakfast foods.
One of the owners said the holidays are a great time for them to make connections with the community.
“We just had a group here come here that’s been coming here every year Mother’s Day for three years, every year basically since we’ve been open, they come in every year for Mother’s Day. We have people from out of town come and travel and visit us, so it’s definitely building that connection,” said Ashley Brown, co-owner of The Brunch House of Augusta.
Brown said they will be offering some specials for the upcoming Juneteenth holiday next month.
The Frog and the Hen also hosted a Mother’s Day brunch. The restaurant had about 350 people come in as of around 3 p.m.
They served foods like fried chicken, cheddar biscuits, French toast casserole and more.
The general manager said she enjoys seeing families come in for holidays like Mother’s Day.
“I feel like these are all my children here, so I feel like this day just in general, like I get to be the mother here, and so this is like I’m mother hen, so I get to take care of all this. I love supporting all the people as well and just being able to get the best food possible, the best chicken everywhere,” said Sheridan Roberts, general manager of Frog and the Hen.
Roberts said they often have to stop making reservations a few weeks ahead of the holiday due to the amount they receive.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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